For Bonnie Taylor, the expense of visiting a dentist immediately puts such an outing near the bottom of her priority list. She hadn’t seen a dentist in years.
“It’s not on the top of my list because I have two children and, of course, you worry more about their teeth than your own,” says Taylor.
But with help from the new Dental Outreach Community Services (DOCS) program at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, her smile is looking great.
On Tuesday evening, community volunteer dentists, with students from The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College, unpacked chairs, drills and dental floss for the program’s latest clinic at the Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre.
The clinic features seven portable units with everything a dentist needs – from halogen lamps, stools and a water supply to suction, drills and X-ray equipment.
Staffed by students, faculty and staff from Schulich Dentistry, community dentists and hygienists, and Fanshawe College Dental Hygiene students, the program can see 14 patients at each clinic.
Last year, 153 patients received free dental care. Twenty clinics are planned for 2010 at four community locations and serving six social service agencies.
“It has helped me out a lot because I can’t afford to take care of my own teeth,” says Taylor, who has had extractions and fillings. “I’m very thankful to the students that have helped me so far and for taking time out to help not only me, but the other people who can’t afford to get their teeth fixed.”
The program reaches out to struggling families in low-income communities.
“This is a great opportunity for the people of London to receive the dental care they need, as well as a true learning experience for our students outside the walls of Schulich Dentistry,” says Harinder Sandhu, director of Schulich Dentistry, which is incorporating community dentistry into a new curriculum.
The program, now in its second year, has become a valuable learning tool but the main focus is on delivering care to those that may not otherwise have access financially.
“It gets the message out to our students that we have a social responsibility to take care of the community and the people in need of such services.”
Students say they appreciate the opportunity provided by the program.
“I love coming, it’s just amazing. I want to continue doing this,” says fourth-year Schulich student Natalie Bernfeld.
Kenneth Wright, community outreach coordinator for DOCS and Schulich professor emeritus, says the program is a co-operative effort by numerous volunteers.
“It’s very gratifying to see gymnasiums and halls transformed into busy dental clinics and to know we’re providing a much needed, and much appreciated, service,” says Wright.
“It’s almost like ‘have bag will travel’, being able to see patients in their own environment and putting them at ease. The students are given the opportunity to see the successes of social responsibility and that’s the kind of students we want to graduate.”
With an appointment already set for a February clinic, Taylor says she now looks forward to seeing the dentist.
“I think it helps me with my self-confidence,” she says. “I’ll be better able to apply myself in looking for work, and knowing that I don’t have to worry about my smile.”